Employment Data Survey

(Conducted in 2012-2013)

Employment Data

The MBA graduates we researched who have backgrounds of military service are currently earning an average annual compensation package of $117,310, which includes both starting salaries and signing bonuses. Average annual compensation for military MBAs breaks down as follows: $99,888 yearly salary; plus $17,422 in signing bonuses.

Overall, this represents a 7% percent increase since the last time we gathered employment data on military MBAs two years ago. Below is a three-year trend in compensation for the military cohort:

Compensation peaked in 2011. Although salaries and bonuses declined from 2011 to 2012, compensation has rebounded 7% from 2010. These trends are consistent among the entire MBA student population.

To place these employment numbers in another context, we have compared our figures with data released in June 2012 from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)* on traditional MBA graduates. Please consider the following data among peer student populations:

Employment surveys conducted with MBA schools throughout the U.S. reveal that officers are one of the most sought after student segments of the MBA graduate pool. In national employment surveys, military personnel with MBAs commanded an average salary and compensation package of $117,310. This compares to data compiled by the Graduate Management Admission Council on traditional MBA graduates, which shows starting salaries and signing bonuses equal to $105,000/year.

Job Placement & Employment Offers
The differences were greater in job placement rates for MBAs. In 2012, 62% of traditional MBA students were placed in jobs. Meanwhile, military MBAs reported 93.5% rates of employment with an average of 1.67 job offers 3 months after graduation.

Conclusion
For the third time, we have conducted employment data research, MBA graduates with backgrounds in the military have outperformed the entire MBA graduate pool. They continue to be strongest sector as it relates to employment demand defined by total compensation, job placement and employment offers. These findings also validate that students who are former, current or reserve "military" have the most to gain from earning their MBA degrees.

Here are two additional planning resources military students use to make informed decisions on their MBA educations and careers:

Industry surveys were conducted with MBA schools on military graduates throughout the U.S. The overall military student population survey totaled 1,408 graduates. Job placement rates and employment offers were reported by 39% of MBA schools who participated in the study.